Jul 09 2026
RestaurantsSan Francisco KitchenSweet & Sour Chicken Recipe

Sweet & Sour Chicken Recipe

Time1h
Serves4

served in a fresh pineapple!

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Ingredients

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For the Chicken

For the Sweet & Sour Sauce

For the Vegetables

For Serving

Method

Prepare the Chicken

  1. 1

    Cut and Coat the Chicken

    Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Toss the chicken in the mixture until well coated.

  2. 2

    Heat the Oil

    In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers.

  3. 3

    Fry the Chicken

    Carefully add the coated chicken pieces to the hot oil. Fry them in batches until they are golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per batch. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Prepare the Sauce

  1. 4

    Combine Sauce Ingredients

    In a medium saucepan, combine the ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Stir well.

  2. 5

    Thicken the Sauce

    In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Add this to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.

Cook the Vegetables

  1. 6

    Sauté the Vegetables

    In the skillet used for the chicken, add the diced red and green bell peppers, and onion. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until they are tender but still crisp.

  2. 7

    Add Pineapple

    Stir in the pineapple chunks and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Combine and Serve

  1. 8

    Mix Everything Together

    Add the fried chicken back to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables and pour the sweet and sour sauce over everything. Stir gently to combine.

  2. 9

    Prepare Pineapple Bowl

    Cut the top off the fresh pineapple and hollow out the inside to create a bowl. Ensure to reserve the pineapple flesh for later use.

  3. 10

    Serve

    Spoon the sweet and sour chicken mixture into the hollowed-out pineapple and serve over cooked rice.

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